Photos and Articles by Will Oliver
Newport Folk Festival had a tough act to follow with last year’s surprise showings from not only the return of Joni Mitchell but also a Paul Simon set. Instead of trying to one-up the festival, it recalibrated of sorts, delivering a festival lineup of some old favorites, up-and-comers, and all the sort of carefully curated acts that the festival has worn as a badge of honor (rightfully so).
Headlining day 1 was My Morning Jacket, one of the most steady live bands in the game. Their presence is always one of reliability. Even with the festival not aiming to dig into a well of surprises, because Noah Kahan had to cancel due to vocal chord issues, the festival found a way to keep the magic going, getting James Taylor to fill in with just a few hours notice. An epic move that you could only find at Newport.
The rest of the day featured a diverse and jam-packed lineup consisting of Maggie Rogers, The Beths, Nikel Creek, The Heavy Heavy, Del Water Gap, Mdou Moctar, Bella White, Free Range, and Ron Gallo.
Find a full gallery of Day 1 pictures posted below.
Ron Gallo:
Free Range:
The Beths:
Bella White:
Mdou Moctar:
Indigo De Souza:
Del Water Gap:
The Heavy Heavy:
Nikel Creek:
Maggie Rogers:
James Taylor:
My Morning Jacket:
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